Rotary railway car coupler structure



May 10, 1966 c. E. TACK ETAL ROTARY RAILWAY CAR COUPLER STRUCTURE 5Sheets-Sheet l Filed April 9, 1965 27 pmmxmmx-vmx INVENTORSV 'ra BYHanan Zncansan/ May 10, 1966 c. E. TACK ETAI.

ROTARY RAILWAY CAR COUPLER STRUCTURE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 9,1965 May 10, 1966 c. E. TACK ETAL 3,250,403

ROTARY RAILWAY CAR COUPLER STRUCTURE Filed April 9, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet3 Siw- United States Patent O 3,250,463 RGTARY RAILWAY CAR COUPLERSTRUCTURE Carl E. Tack, Elmhurst, and Marvin Anderson, Lansing, Ill.,assiguors to Amsted Industries Incorporated, Chicago, lli., acorporation of New Jersey Filed Apr. 9, 1965, Ser. No. 449,921 Claims.(Cl. 213-62) This invention relates to automatic railway car couplersand more particularly to rotary couplers adapted for use on rotary dumpcars of the type commonly employed in the transportation of coal. Thisapplication is a continuation-in-part of our copending applicationSerial No. 388,809, led August 11, 1964, abandoned.

-Prior to the use of rotary car couplers, it was necessary to uncoupleeach car from a train of cars to permit rotary movement of the car to aninverted position. When each car of a train of dump cars is providedwith a rotary coupler engaging a fixed coupler on an adjacent car, it ispossible to rotate each car in a train of cars Without uncoupling thecars.

An object of the invention resides in the provision of a rotary railwaycar coupler structure which is relatively inexpensive to manufacture andreliable in use.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a rotaryrailway car coupler structure embodying means for detachably connectingthe coupler shank to a head portion of a yoke to provide angular and/orrotational movements of the coupler relative to the yoke.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of a rotarycoupler structure in which the coupler shank is detachably connected tothe yoke head by means of a retainer key.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a rotarycoupler structure vwhich is relatively easy to assemble for use, or todisassemble for repair or replacement of parts.

The invention embodies other novel features, details of construction andarrangement of parts which are hereinafter set forth in thespecification and claims and illustrated in accompanying drawings,forming part thereof, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan View, partly in section, showing a rotary couplerstructure embodying features of the invention, the part in section beingtaken along the line 1 1 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 2 is a longitudinal section taken along the line 2 2 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a transverse section taken along the line 3 3 of FIGURE l;

FIGURE 4 is a top plan View, partly in section, illustrating a modifiedform of the invention, the part in section 'being taken along the line 44 of FIGURE 6;

FIGURE 5 is a longitudinal section taken along the line 5 5 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a transverse section taken along the line 6 6 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 7 is a top plan View, partly in section, illustrating anothermodied form of the invention, the part in section being taken along theline 7 7 of FIGURE 8;

FIGURE 8 is a longitudinal sectionV taken along the line 8 8 of FIGURE7; and

FIGURE 9 is a transverse section taken along the line 9 9 of FIGURE 7.

Referring now to the drawings fora better understanding of the inventionand more particularly to FIGURES 1 to 3 therein, the rotary couplerstructure is shown as key 47 3,250,403 Patented May 10, 1966 comprisinga conventional center sill 2 adapted to be secured to the underside of arailway -car body. A striker 6 is rigidly secured at its inner end tothe end of the sill and provided with a top wall 7 and depending sidewalls 3 having lateral anges 9. A carrier housing 11, secured to theforward end of the striker 6, contains a plurality of compressionsprings 12 to resiliently support a coupler carrier 13 for slidingengagement against a Wear pad 14 provided on the lower side of a couplershank 16.

A conventional automatic coupler head 17 is provided on the forward endof the shank 16 for coupling engagement with a non-rotatable coupler onan adjacent car.

The inner end portion 15l of the coupler shank 16 is `formed withspherical convex surfaces 18 for abutting engagement againstcomplementary upper and lower spherical concave surfaces 21 and 22,respectively, formed on the head 23 of a yoke 24. The end portion 15 isalso formed with a spherical convex surface 26 for engagement against aspherical concave surface 271 formed on the front follower 28 of aconventional resilient draft gear 29 mounted within the yoke 24.

The front follower 28 is normally in abutting engagement against frontstop lugs 31 provided on the side Walls 8 of the striker 6. The draftgear comprises the usual rear follower normally engaged again-st rearstop lugs provided on the center sill and extending Ibetween the yokearms 27 for engagement by a back wall of -the yoke, as shown anddescribed in U.S. Patent No. 2,990,963 issued July 4, 1961 to F. C.Kulieke, which patent is incorporated herein by reference.

To p revent axial displacement of the shank 16 from the yoke head 23during rotational movement of the coupler relative to the yoke, ahorizontal recess 32 and yvertical apertures 33 are formed on the headto receive a horizontal base 34 and vertical legs 36, respectively, of aU-shaped retainer key 37.

The head 23 of the yoke 24 is slidably supported upon a yoke headcarrier 3S secured to the lateral flanges 9 on the striker 6 by means ofrivets 39, the other end of the yoke being slida'bly supported upon astrap secured to the center sill, as disclosed in Patent 2,990,963.

During rotational movement of the coupler relative to the yoke, thespherical convex surfaces 18 on the shank 16 slidably engagecomplementary spherical concave surfaces 41 on the retainer key legs 36to prevent disengagement of the coupler from the yoke.

The yoke 24 is guided for longitudinal movement and engaged againstrotational movement relative to the striker 6 by means of spaced guidelugs 42 on the striker straddling guide surfaces 43` on the yoke.

FIGURES 4, 5 and 6 illustrate a modified form of the invention in whichthe head 23a of the yoke 24a is formed with a circular groove 46 toreceive a retainer comprising a plurality of segments 48 which aremaintained within the groove by a cover 49 secured to the yoke head by abolt 50 and bosses 51 engaged in recesses in the head.

The segments 4S are formed with concave surfaces 52 for engagementagainst an annular convex surface 53 formed on the inner end portion 54of the coupler shank 56. This embodiment of the invention is otherwisethe same as the form shown in FIGURES 1-3, and corresponding numbershave been applied to corresponding parts.

FIGURES 7, 8 and 9 illustrate a further embodiment of the invention inwhich the inner end of the coupler shank 57 is formed with a sphericalconcave surface 58 forrcornplementary abuttingengagement againsta-spherl 1. In a rotary railway car coupler structure, a centerV sillhaving top and side Walls, a striker having a top wall and side wallssecured to the center sill, a yoke having a head portion guided foraxialand non-rotationalrnovement within the center sill and striker, adraft gear mounted within the yoke to yieldably resist axial movement ofthe latter and comprising a front follower having a spherical frontsurface, a'coupler shank comprising an enlarged end portion having aspherical end surface complement-ary to and engaging said sphericalfront surface, and retaining key means detachably mounted on said headportion to engage said end portion against axial movement from saidrheadportion, said key means having spherical concave surfaces engaging aspherical convex front surface on said end portion.

2. A rotary railway car coupler structure according to claim 1 in whichsaid head portion is slidably mounted on a yoke head carrier secured tosaid striker.

3. A rotary railway car coupler structure according tov claim 2 in whicha coupler carrier provided on the vertical angling movement of thecoupler shank.

4. A rotary railway car coupler structure according to claim 3 in whichsaid key means comprises a U-shaped membe-r having a base, and legsprojecting upwardly from thelbase. i

5. Av rotary railwaycarcoupler structure according to claim 4 in whichsaid head portion has a recess to receive said base, and yopenings toreceive said legs.

6. A rotary railway car coupler structure -according to claim 5 in whichsaid head portion has upper and lower spherical concave abutmentsurfaces engaging the spherical convex surface on said end portion.

7. A rotary railway car coupler structure according to claim 3 -in whichsaid key means comprises a plurality of segments encircling said endportion and mounted in an annular recess in said head portion.

8. A rotary railway car coupler structure according to claim 3 in whichsaid head portion has a bottom opening, and a cover detachably securedto said head portion to close said opening.

9. In a rotary railway car coupler structure, a center sill having topand side walls, a striker having a top wall and side walls secured tothe center sill, a yoke having a head por-tion guided for axial andnon-rotational movement within the center sill and striker, a draft gearmounted Awithin the yoke to yieldably resist axial movement of thelatter and comprising a front follower having a spherical concave frontsurface, a coupler shank cornprising an enlarged end portion having aspherical convex end surface complementary to and engaging saidspherical concave front surface, and retaining key means detachablymounted on said head portion to engage said end Aportion against axialmovement from said head portion, said key means having spherical concavesurfaces engaging a spherical convex front surface on said end portion.

10. In a rotary lrailway car coupler structure, a center sill having topand side walls, a striker having a top wall Aand sidewalls secured tothe center sill, a yoke having a head portion guided for axial andnon-rotational movement withinA the center sill and striker, a draftgear mounted Within the yoke to yieldably resist axial movement of thelatter and comprising a front follower having Spherial OnVx frontsurface, a coupler shank comprising an enlarged end portion havinga-spherical concave end surface complementary to and engaging saidspherical convex front surface, and retaining key means detachablymounted on said head portion to engage said end portion against axialmovement from said head portion, said key means having spherical concavesurfaces engaging a spherical convex front surface on said end portion.l

11. Ina rotary railway car coupler structure, a center sill having topYand side walls, a striker having a top wall ,and side walls secured tothe centerfsill, ya-yoke having a head portion guided for axialwandnon-rotational movement within .the centerv sill andk striker,l a draftgear mounted within the yoke to-yieldably resist axial movement of thelatter and comprising a front follower having a spherical front surface,a'coupler shankcomprising anenlarged end portion having a spherical'endsurface complementary to and 'engaging said spherical front' surface,andretaining key means detachably mounted on said head portion to engagesaid end portion' against axial movement from said head'po'rtion, saidkey means having spherical concave surfaces'to engage a spherical convexfront surface on said en'd portion,'said head portion having vupperandilower spherical concave abutment surfaces complementary to andin'abutting engagementv against the convex front' surface on said endportion.

12. In a rotary railway car coupler structure, a center sill having topand side walls, a striker havinga top wall and sidewalls secured to thecenter sill, a yoke havinga/head portion guided forlaxial andnon-rotational movement within the center'sill and striker,`a draft gearmounted within the'yoke to yieldably resist axial movement of the latterand'comprising a front'follower having a spherical convex front surface,a coupler shank comprising an enlarged end portion 'having-a sphericalcon' cave end surface complementary to yand engaging said' sphericalconvex front surface, and retaining'key means detachably mounted on saidhead portion to engage said' end portion against axial movement fromsaid head por? tion, said key means having spherical concave surfaces toengage a spherical convex front surface on said end portion, said headportion having upper and lower spherical concave abutment surfacescomplementary to and in -abutting engagement against the sphericalconvex front surface on said end portion.y y

13. In a rotary railway car coupler structure, a center v sill havingtop and side walls,a striker having a top having a head portion guidedfor axial and non-rotational movementwithin the center sill and striker,a draft gear mounted within the yoke to yieldably resist axial movementof the latter and comprising a front follower having a spherical convexyfront surface, a coupler shank comprising an enlarged end portion havinga spherical -concave end surface complementary to and engaging saidspherical convex `front surface, and retainin-g key means detachablymounted on said head porti-on to engage said end portion Iagainst axialmovement from said head portion, said key means having spherical concavesurfaces to engage a spherical convex front vsurface on said endportion, said head portion having upper and lower spherical concaveabutment s'urfaces complementary to and in abutting engagement againstthe spherical convex front surface on said end portion, said sphericalconcave end surface being concentric with said spherical convex frontsurface. l

14. In a rotary railway car coupler structure, a center sill havingtop'and side walls, a striker having a top wall and side `walls securedto the center sill, a yoke having a head portion guided for axial andnon-rotational movement within the center sill and striker, a draft gearmounted within the yoke to yieldably resist axial movement of the latterand comprising a front follower having a spherical convex front surface,a coupler shank comprising an enlarged end portion having a sphericalconcave end surface complementary to and engaging said spherical convexfront surface, and retaining key means detachably mounted on said headportion to engage `said end portion against axial movement from saidhead portion, said key means having spherical concave surfaces to engagea spherical convex front surface on said end portion, said head portionhaving upper and lower spherical concave abutment surfaces complementaryto and in abutting engagement against the spherical convex front surfaceon said end portion, said spherical concave end surface being concentricwith said spherical convex front surface, said key means comprising a U-shaped member having a :base and spaced legs extending upwardly fromsaid hase.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,282,146 5/1942 Mealing et al. 213-47 2,990,9627/1961 Nystrom 213-62 2,990,963 7/1961 Kulieke 213-62 ARTHUR L. LAPOINT, Primary Examiner.

B. FAUST, Assistant Examiner.

14. IN A ROTARY RAILWAY CAR COUPLER STRUCTURE, A CENTER SILL HAVING TOPAND SIDE WALLS, A STRIKER HAVING A TOP WALL AND SIDE WALLS SECURED TOTHE CENTER SILL, A YOKE HAVING A HEAD PORTION GUIDED FOR AXIAL ANDNON-ROTATIONAL MOVEMENT WITHIN THE CENTER SILL AND STRIKER, A DRAFT GEARMOUNTED WITHIN THE YOKE TO YIELDABLY RESIST AXIAL MOVEMENT OF THE LATTERAND COMPRISING A FRONT FOLLOWER HAVING A SPHERICAL CONVEX FRONT SURFACE,A COUPLER SHANK COMPRISING AN ENLARGED END PORTION HAVING A SPHERICALCONCAVE END SURFACE COMPLEMENTARY TO AND ENGAGING SAID SPHERICAL CONVEXFRONT SURFACE, AND RETAINING KEY MEANS DETACHABLY MOUNTED ON SAID HEADPORTION TO ENGAGE SAID END PORTION AGAINST AXIAL MOVEMENT FROM SAID HEADPORTION, AND KEY MEANS HAVING SPHERICAL CONCAVE SURFACES TO ENGAGE ASPHERICAL CONVEX FRONT SURFACE ON SAID END PORTION, SAND HEAD PORTIONHAVING UPPER AND LOWER SPHERICAL CONCAVE ABUTMENT SURFACESCOMPLEMENTTARY TO AND IN ABUTTING ENGAGEMENT AGAINST THE SPHERICALCONVEX FRONT SURFACE ON SAID END PORITON, SAID SPHERICAL CONCAVE ENDSURFACE BEING CONCENTRIC WITH SAID SPHERICAL CONVEX FRONT SURFACE, SAIDKEY MEANS COMPRISING A USHAPED MEMBER HAVING A BASE AND SPACED LEGSEXTENDING UPWARDLY FROM SAID BASE.